Piggys are annoying me... Grrrr

S

Skullblits

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Firstly I love my piggies too bits. I'm happy that they are happy. Zooming and pop corning.

But trying to bond with them. Argggghhh.

It's like it's impossible. Sometimes they come. And sniff my fingers. Other Times they avoid me like the pleaque.


I have tried. Everything put I havent pushed them. Or forced them. I got a bed which is. Easy to pick up for potential snuggle time. But nope. They. Look at it. Then look at me and if looks could. Kill....

I'm happy for them never to be handled. But. Unfortunately it is needed incase they need medical help or treatment..

I've been trying for 2.months. I'm. Not sure if not trying enough. As I said. I'd be happy to. Watch them. For hours on end. But would. Really enioy it if at least one was willing to be handled.

I'm. Probably just annoyed today. And they can pick it up.


I've had them. 6 months now.
 
I've had mine 7 months and just wanted to say that I'm in roughly the same boat, so it's not just you! They're both happy enough and we have a bond, just not one where they want to be held or stroked. Everything I've used to try and pick them up has only ever worked the first time - after that they've gotten wise to it and won't play ball. I'm just slowly persisting at their own pace and hoping that there might be a breakthrough at some point...or at least we'll find a less stressful way for me to catch them/pick them up!
 
The piggy whispering tips are excellent, and for picking them up in a suitable house or tunnel or bed or basket you just have to be fast, happy and determined. @Wiebke posted an excellent video somewhere of her catching a whole herd one at a time in a wicker laundry basket in like seconds! It inspired me to get a pair of wicker wastepaper bins that are great for piggy capture. But if you're going to catch them and pick them up, use a happy sing song voice and a selection of suitably attractive hideys and just do it in seconds before anyone or anypig gets stressed. Even the friendliest pigs hate the capture moment so just make it quick and keep calm but assertive then give them a reward... the worst thing is getting stressed and uncertain and giving off bad vibes and dancing round like a predator for ages! That's what my husband used to do until Piggle bit his neck really badly, then he read the piggy whispering tips and now he can catch 6 pigs in a 26sqft cage in about 3 minutes :)
 
I've seen them having meetings at the back of there housing.

All. 3 of them. Then one of them lifts her head up as tall as she can. I bet she is. Saying..

That tall slave with all the food. Yes he is not worthy yet of are grace.

Lol
 
Oh Ive tried the whispers. But they tend to look at me and run away.

Also I picked one up in a tunnel but she bit me kind of bad. It was entirely my fault though as I had a finger sticking in abit in the tunnel
 
Skullblits said:
Firstly I love my piggies too bits. I'm happy that they are happy. Zooming and pop corning.

But trying to bond with them. Argggghhh.

It's like it's impossible. Sometimes they come. And sniff my fingers. Other Times they avoid me like the pleaque.


I have tried. Everything put I havent pushed them. Or forced them. I got a bed which is. Easy to pick up for potential snuggle time. But nope. They. Look at it. Then look at me and if looks could. Kill....

I'm happy for them never to be handled. But. Unfortunately it is needed incase they need medical help or treatment..

I've been trying for 2.months. I'm. Not sure if not trying enough. As I said. I'd be happy to. Watch them. For hours on end. But would. Really enioy it if at least one was willing to be handled.

I'm. Probably just annoyed today. And they can pick it up.


I've had them. 6 months now.
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Hi and welcome!

Please try the guinea pig whispering tips. Invite them to be a member of the group you are leading. Tell them in guinea pig language that you love them. Watch them and mirror their body language and social interactive behaviours.
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering And Cuddling Tips
Who is the boss - your guinea pig or you?
" Biting" And What You Can Do

But please also see them as independent personalities and not as animated cuddly toys. Lure them to you with some veg treats but don't be disappointed if the run away. Not all of my piggies enjoy handling or even touching in the cage. We can still communicate; I enjoy watching them explore new things and watching them interact.

Yours sound still rather on edge to me but that is not necessarily just your own fault but also depends on stressed out/anxious their mother was when she was pregnant and was nursing them. Some babies can be born with their prey animal instincts on high alert as a default setting. That is very hard to work past, and in may own experience takes years to get past the worst although you will never quite settle them down fully.
Enrichment Ideas for Guinea Pigs
 
Do they come to the front of the cage and take veg/pellets from you?
 
They are still skittish. But they recover quickly. Don't worrie she isn't alone. She has 2 other sows
 

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It takes time and patience with pigs, it can be frustrating but they’re prey animals and they’re so defenceless that it makes them extra cautious. You’ve not had them very long so it’s still early days. I noticed proper improvements with most of my lot after I’d had them about 6 months. Even now after many years they still don’t like being picked up and will run away, thought they enjoy their time when they’re out.

In fact 2 of mine are still very nervous but I think it’s just their nature. With prey animals it’s very much on their terms and they’re very frightened when they’re young. It’s worth remembering that they’re still just babies, with little to no life experience and their default setting it to be scared of everything in case it eats them.

Just take things slowly and before you know it they’ll adore you as much as you adore them :)
 
I am currently bringing two shy piggies out of their shells :)

1. Make sure their cage is not in the ground if they are shy as this can make them feel very vulnerable. If your cage has to be on the ground-one of my cages is for floor time, get on their level- lie or sit next to it whilst you are on your phone or doing whatever.

2. Talk to them lots and lots and encourage the family to do so too-doesn’t even have to be real words just get them used to your voice as it is tempting to be silent and slow on approach this may seem predatory to them. try having a radio nearby so they get used to human noise.

3. Fooood- make them sing for their supper and make time to hand feed veggies so they associate you with food... if this feels impossible try dropping leaf by leaf through cage whenever nearby to strengthen the cupboard love!
As for the secret meeting thing I see mine stretching their necks listening out for me or smelling the veggies in the air and then retreating when I’m in eyeline (I think people can see better than pigs so they don’t think we can see them sometimes lol)
 
Talk to them while you approach the cage as a predator is always silent. It doesn't matter what you say. You can talk any old rubbish. I usually have a one sided chat about the blackbird in the flowering cherry tree next door or what I am going to cook for dinner or about the weekly shopping trip to Sainsbury's! As long as you talk to them to announce your arrival that is what is important.
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Am i the only one who has a guinea pig that chases my hand around the cage, then when she catches me , she popcorns off lol
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No you’re not alone, nutty Jess does it to me too! She’ll clamber on me, tries to eat my fingers if I’ve got food then popcorns around like the crazy lady she is! We’ve got loopy girlies! Dot could always move in with me if she’s causing too much trouble 😉
 
alpacasqueak said:
No you’re not alone, nutty Jess does it to me too! She’ll clamber on me, tries to eat my fingers if I’ve got food then popcorns around like the crazy lady she is! We’ve got loopy girlies! Dot could always move in with me if she’s causing too much trouble 😉
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Dont tempt me lol. Shes a little biter and she enjoys it
 
You know you couldn’t let her go anywhere really :D
And yeah I think Jess blooming loves it too! She’s definitely my boss! :))
 
Can you imagine them both living together😐. Mayhem.

I think dots problem is that when she was a pup i taught her to pull on my hoodie cords and trouser cords. And pull tissues out of boxes, she got a liking for biting, as you can see with that coriandor on her video lol
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
It is sometimes, but when you dont expect it it scares you lol. She grunts with excitement when she launches off to run. Its really funny
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Jess is deaf but the loudest piggy ever! Think as she can’t hear herself she doesn’t realise how blooming loud she is!
Aah what a funny pair they’d make! :D

I really need to get my hands on Dot for a cuddle soon! Even if she wants to beat me up :D She’s so gorgeous and I love the crazy ones!
 
alpacasqueak said:
Jess is deaf but the loudest piggy ever! Think as she can’t hear herself she doesn’t realise how blooming loud she is!
Aah what a funny pair they’d make! :D

I really need to get my hands on Dot for a cuddle soon! Even if she wants to beat me up :D She’s so gorgeous and I love the crazy ones!
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Id love to see it happen haha😁
 
alpacasqueak said:
The crazy cuddle with Dot or the eardrum bursting noises from Jess!? :D
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I meant for our two sows to be together, i read it wrong lol. But yea id love for you to cuddle her. She does let you, its Bernie who wont if Dot is out aswell. But if he is alone he will cuddle, very weird
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I meant for our two sows to be together, i read it wrong lol. But yea id love for you to cuddle her. She does let you, its Bernie who wont if Dot is out aswell. But if he is alone he will cuddle, very weird
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It’s the other way round with my bubs, Jess is always on patrol while Rupert snores on me, if she’s out by herself then first thing she does is climb on my chest for some loving!
Don’t know if they’d be a good pair really, feisty ladies! :box:
 
alpacasqueak said:
It’s the other way round with my bubs, Jess is always on patrol while Rupert snores on me, if she’s out by herself then first thing she does is climb on my chest for some loving!
Don’t know if they’d be a good pair really, feisty ladies! :box:
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Lol , yea itd be a fight i think
 
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